2026 Reading Challenge discussion

THE ANYTHING GOES SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION CHALLENGE
December 1-31, 2013

Competed goal 4/6!! I have now competed my very first challenge!

1. "Anything Goes" is a musical written by Cole Porter - read a book which was adapted into a musical, or a book either set in or written in the 1930's The Book Thief by Markus Zusak 12/17/13

2. The song "Anything Goes" can be heard at the start of the movie "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" - read an action or adventure book, or a book about archaeology, or a book by an author with the surname "Jones". First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones. 12/09/13

3. "Indiana Jones" was famously played by Harrison Ford, who also famously played "Han Solo" in the original "Star Wars" movies - read a book from the sci-fi genre, or read a solo book i.e. one which is not part of a series. The Good Lawyer by Thomas Benigno which is a solo book. 12/07/13

4. The original "Star Wars" was a great trilogy as was "The Lord of the Rings" - read a book from the fantasy genre, or a book which is part of a trilogy, or a book where the authors name contains the letters J.R.R. Robin: Lady of Legend by R. M. ArceJaeger 12/13/13

5. Lord and Lady are titles traditionally associated with the aristocracy, positions which in olden days would have held a lot of power, influence, wealth and lands - read a book which features the aristocracy, or a book recognised as a classic.

6. Tradition plays a central part of many festive celebrations, and I have fond memories of Christmas every year, but especially when I was younger - read a childrens or young adult book, or a book featuring Christmas, or a book which has fond memories for you.

2014 YEARLY CHALLENGE: RANDOMIZER CHALLENGE
Completed goal 20/20!!

1. #46: SANDMAN by Morgan Hannah MacDonald 01/12/14
2. #5: Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin 01/14/14
3. #11: Beauty by Robin McKinley 01/28/14
4. #33. The Host by Stephenie Meyer 02/13/14
5. #41. Love the One You're With by Emily Giffin 02/25/14
6. #189. A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard 03/01/14
7. #70. Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning 03/21/14
8. #82. Dead Weight by T.R. Ragan 04/06/14
9. #104. Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout 04/25/14
10. #203 Columbine by Dave Cullen 05/28/14
11. #230. City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare 06/06/14
12. #139. The Blood Gospel by James Rollins 06/17/14
13. #170. Spirits in the Trees by Morgan Hannah MacDonald 06/25/14
14. #48. The Storybook of Legends by Shannon Hale 07/12/14
15. #86. The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion 07/17/14
16. #201. I Am Livia by Phyllis T. Smith 09/19/14
17. #7. The Proposition by Katie Ashley 09/21/14
18. #156. Breed of Innocence by Lanie Jordan 09/26/14
19. #149. Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia 09/30/14
20. #66. Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor 10/05/14

FIRST QUARTER CHALLENGE: LILAC'S RAINBOW CHALLENGE
Duration: January 1 - March 31, 2014
Completed goal 8/8!

Make a rainbow out of the book covers. You can use as few as four books (red, yellow, green, blue) or as many as you like as long as the final result is a rainbow of books.

My colors:

- 01/18/14
- 01/25/14
- 01/28/14
- 01/20/14
- 01/12/14
- 01/22/14
- 01/03/14
- 01/05/14

FIRST QUARTER CHALLENGE: THE CHINESE ZODIAC (Shēngxiào)
Duration: January 1 - March 31, 2014
Completed goal 8/12!

1. The Horse. On January 31, 2014, it becomes the Year of the Horse! Horses like being the center of attention. Read a book where the main character is famous OR read a memoir about or a biography of a celebrity. UnSweetined by Jodie Sweetin 01/26/14

2. The Goat. Home is where Goats feel the most comfortable. Read a book that takes place in the country you were born in. Third Grave Dead Ahead by Darynda Jones 01/18/14

3. The Monkey. Monkeys are the masters of practical jokes. Read a humorous book.

4. The Rooster. Roosters tend to "tell it like it is." Read a non-fiction book.

5. The Dog. While loyal and faithful, Dogs have trouble finding mates. Read a book that contains a troubled romance. Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin 01/14/14

6. The Pig. Pigs love to have fun but tend to prefer spending to saving. Read a book you have purchased (rather than borrowed). Something Blue by Emily Giffin 01/15/14

7. The Rat. Constantly seeking knowledge, Rats are curious and clever. Read a book that teaches you something.

8. The Ox. Oxen aren't very sociable and prefer life-long friendships to casual acquaintances. Read a book in which the main character could be described as an introvert.

9. The Tiger. Tigers love to be challenged. Read a book you find challenging in some way maybe because of its length, style, or subject matter. Game of Thrones: A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin 01/03/14

10. The Rabbit. Rabbits tend to enjoy meeting people from different places and learning about different cultures. Read a book about a culture not your own The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo 01/30/14

11. The Dragon. The Dragon is often considered to be the strongest sign, and the only one that is a mythical animal. Read a book that contains a mythical or paranormal creature. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead 01/07/14

12. The Snake. Snakes work hard but tend to be easily bored. To prevent boredom, read a short book (i.e., one with fewer than 100 pages). Shining Rock by Blake Crouch 01/07/14

JANUARY'S LET IT SNOW! MINI CHALLENGE
January 1 - 31, 2014
Completed goal 3/4!

For those of us living in cold, northern climates during this time of year, it can be very snowy indeed. Let's do a snow-inspired challenge!

1. Let it Snow! is a song written in 1945. Read a book written in the 1940s.

2. Whiteout. A whiteout is a weather condition where visibility is severely reduced due to snow. Read a book with a predominantly white cover.
01/05/14

3. All snowflakes have six sides. Read a book with the number 6 in its page number. (For example, The Golem and the Jinni has 486 pages.)
01/06/14

4. Is winter over yet? Read a long book (a book with 500 or more pages).
01/03/14

JANUARY: NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS CHALLENGE
Duration: January 1 - 31, 2014
Completed goal 4/8!

1. Save more money. Instead of buying a book, read a book you borrowed (from a friend or the library) or was given to you as a gift. Beauty by Robin McKinley 01/28/14

2. Quit smoking. Smoking is an addiction which is a neurological disorder explained by science. Read a science non-fiction book.

3. Exercise more. Read a book whose cover shows people being active in some way OR read a book in which one of the main characters is an athlete.

4. Spend more time with friends. Old favorite books are just like old friends. Reread an old favorite.Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead 01/07/14

5. Watch less TV. Instead of watching TV or going to the movies, read a book that got turned into a movie or TV show.A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin 01/03/14

6. Go back to school. Read a book from this list: Best School Assigned Books

7. Go on a trip. Read a book that takes place in a country you've never been to. (This can be a made up country.)The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo 01/30/14

8. Volunteer or donate more. Read a book you own then donate it. There are many places that accept donated books. You can try your library, thrift stores, or local charitable organizations. Let us know where you donated your book!

FEBRUARY'S CANDY HEARTS MINI CHALLENGE
Duration: February 1 - 28, 2014
Completed goal 3/4!

1. Love me. This one's easy! Read a romance novel.Intimate Deception by Laura Landon 02/02/14

2. Puppy love. Read a book that features animals.

3. Love bug. The word "bug" means a few different things. Read a book with a title that contains a word with multiple meanings.The Host by Stephenie Meyer 02/13/14

4. Tweet me. Read a book that involves technology in some way.The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton 02/09/14

DAPHNE'S CHALLENGE: EXPLORATIONS IN LOVE
Duration: February 1 - 28, 2014
Completed goal 6/9!

1. Philia. Translated from the ancient Greek as brotherly love. Read a book that features some sort of ‘bromance’ or two strong male characters.The Maze Runner by James Dashner 02/17/14

2. Love triangle. There are some pretty famous ones. In honor of Aphrodite, Hephaistos, and Ares, read a book about ancient myths or fables OR a mythic fantasy novel.

3. Pygmalionism. From the Greek myth of Pygmalion. Read a book that features an artist, a great work of art or architecture, or an inanimate object having some sort of consciousness.

4. Autassassinophilia. Another way to say you love death, destruction, or mayhem. Read a mystery, horror, or thriller.The Haunting Season by Michelle Muto 02/06/14

5. Chronophilia. When you only date people of a certain age group, derived from the God Chronos (father time). Read a book where the main characters are vastly different age ranges OR read a book that spans a large amount of time. The Host by Stephenie Meyer 02/13/14

6. Biophilia. A love of nature. Coined by the great E. O. Wilson. Read a book whose setting takes place in nature or wild and untamed lands OR read a book about ecology. Bonus if you read a book by Edward O. Wilson!Stolen: A Letter to My Captor by Lucy Christopher 02/19/14

7. Star-crossed lovers. In honor of the original star-crossed lovers, read a book that takes place in Renaissance Italy, Elizabethan England, or was book to movie that had Claire Danes or Leonardo DiCaprio in them. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald 02/20/14

8. Mechanophilia. Who doesn't love cool machines? Read a Steampunk/Cyberpunk book OR read a book that machines (like a spaceship) play a big role.The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton 02/09/14

9. Plushophilia. A love of stuffed animals. They even call themselves plushies. Read a book about a sub-culture OR read a book involving anthropomorphism.

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME MINI CHALLENGE
Duration: March 1 - 31, 2014
Completed goal 4/4!

In many parts of the northern hemisphere, Daylight Savings Time begins in March.

1. Read a book set in a place that currently uses daylight savings time. A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard 03/01/14

2. Read a book set in a place that does not currently use daylight savings time. Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith 03/05/14

3. Daylight savings time was first implemented in 1916. Read a book that takes place before 1916. The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory 03/10/14

4. Daylight savings time was first proposed by a man named George Veronon Hudson. Read a book by an author who shares an initial with George Vernon Hudson. Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover 03/19/14

THE MNEMONIC CHALLENGE
Duration: March 1 - 31, 2014
Completed goal 7/8!

"Spring forward, fall back" is a mnemonic device to help you remember which way to change your clocks during daylight savings time. A mnemonic is a memory aid. Let's explore other mnemonics in this challenge.

1. My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nachos is used to remember the order of the planets. Read a book that takes place in space.

2. My Enormous Penguin Bounces Pretty High is to remember the series of alkanes in chemistry. Read a book that features an animal that is not typically kept as a pet (like a penguin). The Time Hunters by Carl Ashmore 03/02/14

3. Thirty days hath September, April, June, and November. Read a book that has a page number count that includes the digits 3 and 0 (in any order). The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory 03/10/14

4. Wives of Henry VIII: divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived. Read a book in which a character is part of an unhappy marriage. The Silent Wife by A.S.A. Harrison 03/13/14

5. Mrs. Baker is used to remember the eight common law felonies (murder, rape, sodomy, burglary, arson, kidnapping, escape, robbery). Read a book in which one of these felonies takes place. A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard 03/01/14

6. Please excuse my dear Aunt Sally (PEMDAS) is to remember the order of operations in math (parenthesis, exponents, multiplication & division, addition & subtraction). Read a book that has a Goodreads description that includes parentheses. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman 03/01/14

7. Every good boy does fine is the mnemonic for the notes on the five lines of the treble clef. Read a book that involves music in some way. Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover 03/19/14

8. I before E, except after C read a book that has a title containing a word following the mnemonic (e.g., it could contain the word "friend" or "receive"). Legacy of Lies 03/11/14

Jaclyn,

I'm impressed with your avid reading. The challenges you sign up for are difficult enough without adding the number of books. I commend your efforts and admire your ability to read the amount you have in such short a time. Much luck to you.

Nancy wrote: "Jaclyn,

I'm impressed with your avid reading. The challenges you sign up for are difficult enough without adding the number of books. I commend your efforts and admire your ability to read the a..."

Nancy, you're so funny!

SECOND QUARTER CHALLENGE: #READWOMEN2014
Duration: April 1 - June 30, 2014

For this challenge, decide how many new-to-you female authors you would like to read. Once your goal is set, read! And come back and tell us who your favorites were to get great female authors more exposure. Each author can only count once.

completed goal of 8!

Becca Fitzpatrick 04/09/14
Lisa Tawn Bergren 04/12/14
Janet Evanovich 04/14/14
Jennifer L. Armentrout 04/25/14
Cristin Terrill 05/05/14
Kristin Cashore 05/10/14
Marie Lu 05/15/14
Liane Moriarty 05/17/14

SECOND QUARTER CHALLENGE: FINISH THOSE SERIES!
Duration: April 1 - June 30, 2014

This challenge focuses on finishing series you've started. They can be series you started as a child and want to know what happened to your favorite childhood characters (for example, Lowry's The Giver or L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time), they can be series you would like to start and finish within the span of the quarter, or they can just be any series you started but never finished.

Rules:

- For the purposes of this challenge, a series must have at least three books in it

- Identify how many and which series you plan to finish

- Books marked as x.5 in the series are optional (for example, Percy Jackson and the Sword of Hades is #4.5 in the series so does not need to be read)

- No matter how many books you've read in the series prior to the start of this challenge (even if you've read four of the five books, say), it counts as long as you finish

- You can change your planned lists at any time

- Progress will be tracked by completed series only--individual books will not count, but you can still use this thread to track them

- To count, you must finish the series through books published in 2013 (i.e., if a series has three books currently out but a fourth is coming out later in 2014, you only need to finish the first three books to count it toward this challenge)

My goal is to finish 5 series for a total of 12 books: 

Completed goal 5/5!!!

The Fever series: 5/5 COMPLETED!

The Hush, Hush series: 4/4 COMPLETED!

The Leo Demidov series: 3/3 COMPLETED!

The Charley Davidson series: 6/6 COMPLETED!

The Mortal Instruments series: 6/6 COMPLETED!

Hi Jacelyn,

We should try to read Finale at the same time. We could buddy read it. I have read the first three in the series. I enjoyed it.

Jodi wrote: "Hi Jacelyn,

We should try to read Finale at the same time. We could buddy read it. I have read the first three in the series. I enjoyed it."

That sounds like fun! You don't mind waiting until I read the first three? I'll try to start with that series and I'll let you know as soon as I get to Finale. :)

That is no problem. I have many other books I need to read. I have so many series I have on the go. I can wait for that one.

LITTLE APRIL SHOWER MINI CHALLENGE
Duration: April 1 - 30, 2014
Completed goal 4/4!

Little April Shower is a song from the Disney movie, Bambi. You can watch it here. Let's take a look at other Disney movies that contain rain.

1. Beauty and the Beast. Read a book that has "Romance" listed as a genre OR a book where the main character misjudges someone. Waterfall by Lisa Tawn Bergren 04/12/14

2. The Rescuers. Read a book that has "Adventure" listed as a genre OR a book in which someone needs rescuing. Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick 04/09/14

3. The Little Mermaid. Read a book that takes place at sea OR contains mythical creatures. Dreamfever by Karen Marie Moning 04/02/14

4. The Sword in the Stone. Read a book that contains magic of some sort OR read a book that takes place in medieval Europe. Storm Front by Jim Butcher 04/10/14

THE SHOWER DISAMBIGUATION CHALLENGE
Duration: April 1 - 30, 2014
Completed goal 7/10!

Wikipedia has lots of entries for the word "shower." Let's explore them!

1. A shower is the act of bathing under a spray of water. Read a book that has water in some form on its cover. This can be traditional forms of water (such as a lake, a glass of water, or rain), but it could also be ice or steam. The Legend of Devil's Creek by D.C. Alexander 04/08/14

2. A type of precipitation. Read a book that contains some kind of weather event. EverFall by Joe Hart 04/17/14

3. A juggling pattern. The more objects in the shower, the more difficult. The same can be said for page numbers. Read a book with more than 350 pages. Waterfall by Lisa Tawn Bergren 04/12/14

4. The 1999 short film. This film is only 10 minutes long. Read a short book (fewer than 150 pages). A Stepmother's Story: The TRUE Tale of Cinderella by R.M. ArceJaeger 04/03/14

5. The 1999 Chinese drama/comedy. Read a book set in China OR read a book you would consider to be both a drama and a comedy. One For The Money by Janet Evanovich 04/14/14

6. The episode of The O.C. The O.C. was an American teen drama that took place in Orange County, CA. Read a book set in California OR read something you would consider to be a teen drama. Dead Weight by T.R. Ragan 04/06/14

7. Baby shower. Read a book in which a character has a baby OR read a book in which something important happened to a main character while he or she was a baby.

8. Bridal shower. Read a book you received as a gift OR read a book in which someone gets married.

9. Meteor shower. Read a book that at least partly takes place in space OR (because we sometimes wish upon meteors) read a book in which a character makes a wish.

10. Particle shower. Read a book about science OR read a book with a title containing a word that can be made from the letters in the word PARTICLE (examples: PART, ICE, IT, AT, CLEAR). Relic by Douglas Preston 04/17/14

THE MAY HOLIDAY COVER HUNT
Duration: May 1 - 31, 2014
Completed goal 7/8!!

Let's take a look at various holidays around the world.

1. May Day is lei day in Hawaii. Read a book with a flower on its cover.
05/17/14

2. World Press Freedom Day. Read a book with a form of media on its cover (such as a book, a newspaper, or a CD).
05/13/14

3. Star Wars Day. May the Fourth be With You. Read a book with a star on its cover.
05/15/14

4. Children’s Day. こどもの日. Read a book that has a child on its cover.
05/15/14

5. Cinco de Mayo. Read a book with the number 5 somewhere on its cover (even if it’s in the title!)
05/05/14

6. National Train Day. Read a book with a mode of transportation on its cover.
05/19/14

7. Towel Day. "A towel, [The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy] says, is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have." Read a book with a towel on it.

8. World Turtle Day. Read a book with an animal on its cover.
05/04/14

JULY: THE HOARDERS CHALLENGE
Duration: July 1 - July 30, 2014

Completed goal 9/10!!

As we move into the second half of the year, it's time to clear those shelves!

1. Read the book that has been on your Goodreads TBR list longest.Delirium 07/02/14

2. Read a book from your physical book shelf or any other stash of books.1st to Die 07/22/14

3. Read a book you got as a gift or for free. Bared to You 07/28/14

4. Read a book recommended by or borrowed from a friend. The Angel Experiment 07/14/14

5. Read a group read that you missed. The Rosie Project 07/17/14

6. Read the next book in a series that you've neglected. Two for the Dough 07/04/14

7. Read the book that you've most recently added to your TBR list. Where She Went 07/30/14

8. Read a book you started and never finished. Storm Born 07/24/14

9. Read a book you bought with great intentions to read and just haven't got to it yet. Spirit Legacy 07/12/14

10. Read a book that you should have read in high school or college but you faked through instead.

FOURTH QUARTER CHALLENGE: Quick Reads
Duration: October 1 - December 31, 2014
Goal:11

For this challenge, read as many short books as you can. We will define a "short book" as anything under 200 pages or 5 hours (for those listening to audiobooks).

*69 10/25/14
In Time 10/26/14
Mary Paige 10/27/14
L'Immortalite: Madame Lalaurie and the Voodoo Queen 10/29/14
Nancy Drew Mystery Stories : The Secret of The Old Clock and The Hidden Staircase 10/30/14
Maybe Not 11/27/14
In Her Wake 10/27/14
A Shade of Vampire 10/31/14
Midnight Paths: A Collection of Dark Horror 10/30/14
The Witch of Duva 10/26/14
The Tailor 10/26/14